Chapter 10 - Ripples of Victory

As Peter leaned in to meet Tiona's lips, the world around him seemed to slow, the rush of the duel still echoing in his ears. With her face hanging upside down, their lips met in an unexpected yet oddly perfect moment. The thrill of victory mingled with the warmth of her kiss, sending a jolt of excitement coursing through him.

With Tiona still suspended in the air, Peter swiftly retrieved his web dissolving spray, releasing her with a deft application. As the webbing dissolved away, he moved with precision to catch her. With practiced ease, he supported her weight, ensuring she landed safely on her feet.

Finn, ever the fair and impartial observer, approached Peter with a congratulatory pat on the back. "Well done, Peter," he commended, his voice filled with genuine admiration. "You fought with remarkable skill and determination. I must say, I'm thoroughly impressed."

However, Tione, never one to mince words, wasted no time in voicing her protest. "He cheated!" she accused, her tone sharp with indignation. "Using magic during unarmed combat is against the rules!"

Finn, unruffled by Tione's outburst, shook his head with a knowing smile. "Using magic wasn't explicitly forbidden according to the rules I set," he clarified, his tone firm yet diplomatic. "Peter played within the bounds of the rules, and he emerged victorious fair and square."

Bete, the gruff wolf-man whose initial skepticism had turned to reluctant respect, approached Peter with an unexpected nod of approval. "Not bad, kid," he grunted, his gravelly voice carrying a note of genuine admiration.

Beside him, the dwarf offered a solemn nod of approval, acknowledging Peter's feat with a hint of solemnity. Meanwhile, the tall, beautiful elf regarded him with a mixture of suspicion and curiosity, her piercing gaze betraying her intrigue. As for the rest of the Loki Familia, they gawked at him in utter disbelief, their expressions oscillating between shock and bewilderment.

Bell seemed to have lost all sense of composure, his jaw practically making acquaintances with the ground as he stared wide-eyed at Peter, resembling a startled rabbit caught in the headlights.

Ais, approached Peter with a hint of curiosity in her expression. For the first time, her doll-like visage seemed to crack, revealing a glimmer of genuine emotion. "How are you this strong?" she inquired, her voice soft yet tinged with curiosity and a hint of hope, her eyes betraying a newfound interest.

Loki suddenly jumped into the conversation. "Yes, indeed," she chimed in, her voice laced with intrigue. "How is it that a level 1 rookie like you possesses such remarkable strength and skill?" Her words were polite, but there was an unmistakable undercurrent of curiosity and perhaps even a hint of scheming, her eyes glittering with hidden motives.

Peter squirmed uncomfortably, his hand absentmindedly scratching the back of his head. "Well, you see," he began, his words stumbling over each other, "It's sort of a... family secret, you know? Can't just spill all the beans, right?" He flashed a nervous smile, hoping his feeble excuse would pass muster before swiftly shifting gears. With the goddesses ability to detect lies, Peter knew he had to guard his secret about being from a different dimension at all costs.

Eager to divert attention from his awkward explanation, Peter turned his gaze to Tiona, his voice a touch unsteady. "Um, Tiona, would you maybe want to go out for dinner with me tonight?" he mumbled, as he attempted to change the subject.

Tiona beamed, her enthusiasm evident. "Of course, I'd love to!" she exclaimed, her smile brightening the room. But before Peter could fully bask in his triumph, Loki's voice cut through the air like a sharp blade.

"Hold it right there," Loki interjected, her tone dripping with mischief. "I'm not quite finished with you yet. A familia secret, you say? Pray tell, which familia do you hail from?"

Peter gulped, feeling the weight of Loki's scrutiny. "Um, Hestia Familia," he hesitantly confessed.

Loki's expression twisted into one of disbelief mixed with irritation. "The 'Loli Big Boobs Familia'?" she exclaimed incredulously, her annoyance palpable. "How in the world did someone like her manage to recruit someone like you?"

Peter squirmed uncomfortably under Loki's intense gaze, feeling like a rabbit cornered by a hungry wolf. He hadn't expected such a strong reaction, especially not from the goddess of the Familia whose member he had just challenged. He mentally kicked himself for forgetting about the whole Hestia-Loki rivalry thing.

Desperate to steer the conversation away from his awkward slip-up, Peter clapped a hand on Bell's shoulder, practically dragging him into the spotlight. "Bell, introduced me to Hestia. I joined her familia thanks to him," he blurted out, hoping to shift the focus. But Loki remained fixated on him, undeterred. "Now, Bell, didn't you have something to say to Ais Wallenstein?" Peter prodded, hoping to divert Loki's attention elsewhere.

It worked, albeit with unintended consequences. Loki's glare shifted from Peter to Bell, her eyes practically shooting daggers. "And just what do you have to say to my precious Ais, hmm?" she demanded, her tone dripping with suspicion.

Meanwhile, Ais stood nearby, her expression as unreadable as ever, looking like a living, breathing mannequin. Peter couldn't help but chuckle inwardly at the sight.

As the tension mounted, Peter's gaze landed on a young elf girl in the corner, her eyes practically shooting fire at Bell. He couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for his friend, who was squirming like a rabbit caught in a trap under Peter's firm grip.

Amusement danced across the faces of the onlookers as they watched Bell squirm under Peter's sticky grip, like a fish desperately trying to wriggle free from a net. Bete, always one for cutting remarks, couldn't resist adding fuel to the fire. "Come on, weakling, spit it out already! We haven't got all day," he jeered, earning a sharp glare from Tiona.

Bell's struggle against Peter's hold intensified, his face turning as red as a ripe tomato. Finally, with all eyes on him, he blurted out his thanks to Ais in a rush of words. "Uh, thank you for, you know, saving my sorry ass from that Minotaur, M..Miss Wallenstein! And, uh, sorry for running away back then," he managed, his words tumbling out in a jumble.

Bete couldn't help but burst into laughter at Bell's nervousness. "Holy shit, this is the tomato boy," he exclaimed between guffaws, earning him a swift karate chop to the back of the head from Tiona. "Ow!" he yelped, rubbing the sore spot with a sheepish grin.

Meanwhile, Ais tilted her head slightly before responding. "I apologize as well," she said softly, her voice carrying a hint of regret. "The Minotaurs were our responsibility. They shouldn't have reached the upper floors, let alone put you in danger on the fifth floor."

Loki suddenly sported a mischievous grin, slinging her arm around Bell's shoulder and yanking him away from Peter's grip. "So, Ais saved your life, huh?" she remarked, her voice dripping with intrigue. "Do you know how you could pay her back?" Bell's eyes widened in panic. "H-How?" he stammered nervously.

Loki's grin widened as she leaned in closer. "Aiz here would like to know how Peter is so strong," she whispered, her tone playful yet ominous. Bell's heart raced as he struggled to find an answer. "I can't say," he mumbled, his voice trembling. "It's a Familia secret." He looked on the verge of tears.

Loki let out an exaggerated pout. "Aww," she cooed, mocking his distress. "Aiz, tell him how much you want to know the reason behind Peter's strength." Ais regarded Bell with genuine curiosity. "Please tell me," she asked, her tone gentle yet insistent. "How is Peter this strong at level 1?"

Bell's face flushed crimson as he stumbled over his words. "Um, well, you see... Peter is... um... blessed by a spirit," he blurted out, his embarrassment evident in every syllable.

Peter couldn't help but wonder how Bell got that idea in the first place. Then, like a light bulb flickering to life, he recalled Bell asking Jane something similar in the dungeon yesterday. Jane had joked, "Peter always has my blessing." Maybe being blessed by a spirit was indeed a thing in this world.

'Well, it could work to my advantage,' Peter mused silently. 'At least it's a good excuse to hide the fact that I'm a super-powered being from another dimension.' He couldn't help but smirk at the absurdity of it all.

Peter shook his head at Bell's apparent inability to keep secrets. It seemed that all it took was a pretty face for him to start babbling everything. Reflecting on Hestia's wisdom in concealing Bell's skill, he conceded, 'At least Bell genuinely believes in his 'blessing' from Jane.' He couldn't help but speculate, 'So perhaps Loki, the walking lie detector, might have bought into it as well.'

Grabbing Bell by the arm, Peter interjected, "Well, it's been a blast, folks, but we really should get going." Turning to Tiona, he added with a grin, "I'll come to pick you up at 8 tonight." Then, with a quick "See you later, everyone!" Peter swiftly ushered Bell out the door, determined to prevent any more slip-ups – like Bell accidentally spilling the beans about Jane.

As they headed towards the snack stand where Hestia worked, following her earlier instructions to deliver news after the duel, Peter couldn't shake the feeling of being watched, like someone was eyeing him with a predatory gaze. This sensation had lingered since they neared Twilight Manor. Glancing around, Peter noticed Bell's uneasy expression. "You feel it too? Like someone in watching us." Bell's question confirmed Peter's suspicions. Immediately, the intensity of the gaze lessened, though it remained present, albeit subdued.

"Yeah, I've been sensing it since yesterday," Peter admitted. Bell echoed his sentiment, noting the current mildness of the sensation.

With a nod of understanding, Peter turned to Bell, his expression now serious and stern. "Seriously, man, why'd you have to spill the beans back there?" he questioned, his disappointment evident. "You were about to tell them about Jane next!"

Bell's apologetic gaze met Peter's, his contrition evident. "I'm sorry, Peter," he mumbled, realizing the gravity of his mistake.

"Apologies aren't sufficient, Bell," Peter asserted, his tone unwavering. "We must exercise greater caution from now on. Every action we take carries weight, and a single misstep could put everything at risk." Peter paused, feeling a twinge of hypocrisy given his recent daring duel with one of Orario's top adventurers. Despite this inner conflict, he knew the importance of instilling in Bell the significance of discretion.

Continuing their walk, Peter maintained a serious demeanor, emphasizing the gravity of the situation as he lectured Bell about the importance of discretion and the potential consequences of revealing sensitive information.

As Peter and Bell approached Hestia's snack stand, they noticed her attending to a line of customers, her expression etched with worry. However, as soon as she spotted them, her demeanor shifted, and she shouted out, "I need a break!" With that, she hurried out to intercept them, leaving her customers momentarily confused.

Suddenly, her overweight boss bellowed from behind the counter, "You can't take breaks whenever you want! We have a business to run here. Get back here right now!" His voice reverberated through the street, filled with annoyance and authority.

Ignoring her boss's demands, Hestia stood her ground, her eyes flashing with determination. With a swift motion, she flipped him the bird and declared, "I quit." Her boss continued to bellow obscenities, his tirade growing more colorful by the second as she walked away, head held high.

Peter couldn't help but be taken aback by her brazen reaction, but deep down, he felt a sense of satisfaction that she finally quit that wretched job. Peter grinned at Hestia. "Congratulations on quitting your job, Goddess," he said sincerely.

Hestia beamed in response. "It's all thanks to you two," she replied happily. "Giving me a third of your earnings is the reason I could quit that awful job. It wasn't the work itself, but my boss... Who does he think he is, ordering around a goddess? But enough about me." Her eyes sparkled with excitement. "Tell me about the duel! How did it go? Did you win?" she exclaimed, practically bouncing on her toes with anticipation.

Peter's grin widened at her enthusiasm. "Oh, you bet I did," he replied with a wink, his tone brimming with pride. "I won the duel, but it was a close call. Tiona put up quite a fight."

Hestia's eyes widened in astonishment. "You won? You actually defeated a level 5?" she gasped, disbelief written across her face. "That's incredible!"

"Yeah, I had underestimated the power of a level 5," Peter admitted, scratching the back of his head sheepishly. "But I managed to pull through somehow."

"I can't wait to rub it in Flatchest's face!" Hestia added with a mischievous glint in her eyes, earning a surprised chuckle from Peter. "You've really made me proud." She then pulled Peter into a tight hug, her excitement overflowing.

Hestia then said with a hint of worry while still hugging him tightly, "I hope the news doesn't spread too much. The other gods will try to snatch you away from me if they find out you're this strong." Peter hugged her back, though he had to lean down quite a bit, and patted her comfortingly. "Don't worry, Goddess, no one will be taking me away from you."

After chatting a bit about the duel, Hestia asked with slight embarrassment, "I know you gave me the valis for familia expenses, but is it all right if I buy a dress with them? I was invited to a party tomorrow being held exclusively for the gods, and I don't have anything proper to wear to such an event." Bell exclaimed, "Of course, you can buy a dress with that money, Goddess. You can do whatever you please with it." Hestia beamed.

Peter cleared his throat to offer clarification, "While that money is for familia expenses, as our Goddess, your attire should reflect our status. It's crucial to present Hestia Familia as prosperous and respectable. How about this, Goddess? You go window shopping for a dress while we venture into the dungeon. We'll certainly earn more valis today, and we'll use them to gift you the perfect dress."

Bell enthusiastically added, "Absolutely! Consider the dress yours. Just pick out the one you love, and we'll make sure it's yours by tonight." Hestia hugged them both gratefully, though they had to bend down to accommodate her embrace.

Freya frowned as she peered into her mirror, her gaze fixed on Peter and Bell ever since their arrival at the twilight manor. Excitement had bubbled within her since yesterday when, disguised as Syr, she had witnessed Peter challenging Tiona 'the Crusher' to a duel. Yet, beneath her anticipation, jealousy simmered as she watched Peter seemingly court another woman.

With amazement, she observed Peter's victory over a level 5 opponent. She had never anticipated such power from a level 1. Squinting, she attempted to discern the intricate patterns of his soul, a swirling vortex of crimson hues with delicate white patterns resembling a spider's web. The webs seemed to extend into unseen realms, captivating her gaze. Peter's soul was the most unique and mesmerizing one she had ever seen. However, her scrutiny was abruptly interrupted as both Peter and Bell appeared to sense her soul gaze.

Still, Freya persisted in her observation as they made their way to Hestia. She couldn't help but be surprised that the petite goddess had managed to secure such remarkable individuals as her own. Jealousy gnawed at her heart as she witnessed Hestia's affectionate embrace of Peter. Moments later, her envy reached a boiling point as Hestia hugged both of her destined lovers, their reciprocal affection for the diminutive goddess laid bare.

With a surge of frustration, Freya hurled her wine glass at the mirror, shattering it into pieces.

She realized she needed to separate both of them from Hestia before she could claim them as her own. If she forcibly stole them from Hestia, they would resent her and become even more attracted to Hestia. From experience, she knew that if she charmed them, their souls would eventually lose their unique shine and become dull and monotonous like her other children who had become mere slaves to her charm. That was why she had stopped living at her familia home, Folkvangr, to prevent her charm from tainting the souls of her children. So far, only Ottar seemed to be marginally immune to her charm.

Freya devised a cunning plan; she needed another god to steal Bell and Peter from Hestia first. Many gods would eagerly go to war over a level 1 adventurer who could defeat a level 5. Fortunately, most of these gods treated their children as possessions to hoard rather than individuals. Freya knew Bell and Peter would become miserable in the hands of such gods. So, she would wait for the opportune moment to swoop in and 'rescue' them, gaining their gratitude and affection.

Freya called out to Ottar, her trusted servant, "Ottar, I have a task for you."

Ottar, a towering presence with unruly rust-colored hair and eyes that mirrored the same fiery hue, stepped forward obediently at Freya's command. Adorning his head were a pair of distinctive boar ears, further emphasizing his unique appearance. Despite his imposing stature, there was a palpable sense of obedience and devotion in his demeanor as he responded to Freya's call. "Yes, my goddess?" he inquired respectfully, his tone reflecting his unwavering loyalty.

Freya's eyes gleamed with determination as she issued her instructions, "Instruct our familia members to spread this across every corner of Orario. Let every tavern, every pub, every shop frequented by adventurers and gods know of the remarkable feat achieved by a level 1 rookie from the Hestia Familia. Make sure they hear about Peter's victory over the level 5 'Crusher,' Tiona Hiryute of the Loki Familia."

Ottar nodded solemnly, his loyalty unwavering. "It will be done as you command, my goddess," he affirmed before departing to carry out her wishes.

Freya's grin widened as she poured herself a fresh glass of wine, relishing the moment with a sense of certainty that her plans were swiftly falling into place.